Trade sale
Japan buyouts: Bucking the trend
Japan remains a private equity hotspot despite muted buyout activity elsewhere in Asia. Take-private and sponsor-to-sponsor opportunities make for a more textured local market
Australia's PE-backed Silk Laser set for take-private
Australia-listed Silk Laser Clinics, a non-surgical aesthetics business backed by local PE firm Advent Partners, has signalled it intends to accept a take-private offer from Hong Kong’s EC Healthcare.
India home rentals platform NestAway acquired by strategic player
Aurum PropTech, a listed Indian property technology provider, has acquired NestAway, a home rentals platform that previously received several rounds of private funding, for INR 900m (USD 11m).
VC investors primed for exit with China Youzan reorganisation
Hillhouse Capital and Matrix Partners China are set for liquidity events after China Youzan, an e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) business listed in Hong Kong, agreed to take full control of its key subsidiary for HKD 2.6bn (USD 334.5m).
Blackstone buys jewellery certification business, China's Fosun exits
The Blackstone Group has paid USD 569.7m for 100% of Belgium-headquartered jewellery certification business International Gemological Institute (IGI), taking out investors including China’s Fosun Group.
CPE sells Australia used car business to Japan's Sojitz
CPE Capital has sold part of Dutton Group, an Australia-based used car dealer it has owned since 2016, to Japan’s Sojitz Corporation for an undisclosed sum.
Apax invests $450m in India’s IBS Software, Blackstone exits
Apax Partners has agreed to pay USD 450m for a significant minority stake in India’s IBS Software, a travel and logistics industry supplier, enabling an exit for The Blackstone Group.
CLSA exits Japan parking lot operator to Advantage
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has agreed to sell Japanese coin-operated parking lot business Ecolocity to Advantage Partners for an undisclosed sum.
Q&A: ShawKwei & Partners’ Kyle Shaw
Kyle Shaw, founder and managing partner of ShawKwei & Partners, on bright spots in industrial manufacturing and becoming more Southeast Asia-centric as supply chains reduce China exposure
Australia's PE-backed Best & Less receives take-private offer
Best & Less, an Australian baby and kids retailer that went public less than two years ago under the guidance of then-majority owner Allegro Funds, has received a take-private offer from an investment vehicle controlled by retail industry veteran Brett...
Khazanah commits $40m to India's Xpressbees
Malaysia sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has invested USD 40m in India-based logistics start-up Xpressbees through the acquisition of shares from one of the company’s early backers.
Valuation stalemates stall SE Asia exits – M&A Forum
Private equity investors at the Mergermarket M&A Forum Southeast Asia sensed that something has to give in a deadlocked regional exit market, where the bid-ask divide could break in either direction.
Creador moves stake in Malaysia's CTOS between funds
Creador has rolled over a 14.7% stake in Malaysia-listed credit bureau CTOS Digital, one of its key investments, from its second fund to its fifth fund.
1Q analysis: Barely disguised weakness
Government guidance funds in China and Toshiba Corporation in Japan papered over obvious cracks in Asia private equity fundraising and investment. Nothing could hide the pain around exits
Temasek increases holding in India's Manipal Health
Temasek Holdings is set to become the majority shareholder in Indian hospital operator Manipal Health Enterprises, having agreed to acquire an additional 41% stake in the company. The transaction facilitates an exit for TPG Capital, but the PE firm will...
GIC takes co-control of Bain-owned Japan software company
Bain Capital has ceded co-control of Japanese HR software provider Works Human Intelligence (WHI) to GIC in a deal ranked among the Singapore sovereign investor’s largest acquisitions.
TII, Premji to acquire India medical devices player
Tube Investments of India (TII) and Premji Invest have agreed to acquire medical instruments maker Lotus Surgicals for up to INR 3.5bn (USD 42.3m), providing an exit for Samara Capital.
Accenture buys India's VC-backed Flutura
Flutura, an India-headquartered provider of artificial intelligence-enabled (AI) analytics services to industrial customers, has been acquired by Accenture. The deal facilitates an exit for several VC investors, including Vertex Ventures.
Japan's Aspirant announces third exit in three weeks
Aspirant Group has sold Japan’s only offshore drilling contractor, Japan Drilling (JDC), to JX Nippon Oil Exploration Corporation for an undisclosed sum, marking its third exit in as many weeks.
Kedaara buys majority stake in India dermatology player
Kedaara Capital has acquired a majority stake in medico-aesthetic dermatology services Oliva Skin & Hair Clinic, facilitating an exit for healthcare specialist InvAscent Capital.
NIC buys Japan dental consultancy, Jafco exits
Japanese private equity firm Nippon Investment Corporation (NIC) has acquired 100% of local dental industry services provider Medical Support Consulting, facilitating an exit for Jafco.
EQT buys Korean security services provider
EQT has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Korea-based security monitoring business SK Shieldus from an affiliate of SK Group and Macquarie Asset Management, through an investment under its core-plus infrastructure strategy.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Exit of the Year – Small Cap: CosmoLife
When selling CosmoLife, Advantage Partners prioritised strategics with existing customer bases that could help the Japanese drinking water company in its next chapter. This coincided with a healthy valuation
Rise Fund buys Malaysian university from KV Asia
The Rise Fund, TPG’s global impact investment platform, has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Malaysia-based Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) from KV Asia.